Ladbrokes and Coral owner Entain (ENT.L) has posted stronger-than-expected sales and earnings for the first half of 2026, lifted by a significant boost from the World Cup.
Net gaming revenues grew by 5% for the six months to June 30 compared with a year earlier, coming in ahead of analyst expectations across the board.
The company, which also owns Foxy Bingo, credited 7% online revenue growth as a key driver, with particularly strong performances recorded in the UK and Australia.
UK and Ireland revenues rose by 8% for the period, with 13% online growth helping to soften the financial blow of high street shop closures across the region.
Entain shut 45 stores across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland earlier this year as part of its ongoing operational restructuring.
The group said its UK performance showed “impressive” momentum despite “digesting the recently increased UK remote gambling taxes” that came into effect earlier this year.
The rate of remote gaming duty increased sharply from 21% to 40% from the start of April, with an additional new rate of general betting duty set to be introduced next year.
UK gaming revenues climbed 13% for the half-year period, while the sports betting operation delivered an 11% increase, reflecting robust consumer demand.
Entain’s sports arm was particularly buoyed by the expanded World Cup from June, which drove a notable jump in first-time customers and gamblers using its BetBuilder accumulator product.
Underlying earnings for the six-month period came in at £479 million, down 2% year-on-year but still ahead of market expectations, reinforcing the company’s resilient financial position.
Chief executive Stella David said: “I am pleased with Entain’s start to 2026 with strong momentum and volume growth continuing as well as strong player engagement across the group throughout the World Cup tournament.”
David added: “This performance reflects our strengthening operations and focused execution which reinforces the resilience of our globally scaled business and its ability to consistently deliver high-quality growth.”
She further stated: “I am confident our disciplined focus on growth and optimisation will deliver strong future cash-generation, and that Entain remains well positioned to be a long-term industry winner.”
The results suggest Entain is navigating a challenging regulatory environment with greater agility than many investors had anticipated heading into the second half of the year.
